People protest against Japan's discharging nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean in front of the Japanese Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, Jan. 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Zulkarnain)
JAKARTA, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- An Indonesian civil group on Monday held a demonstration in front of the Japanese embassy in Indonesian capital Jakarta to protest against Japan's discharge of nuclear-contaminated wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean.
"We warn the Japanese government to stop dumping the nuclear wastewater which has bad impact on the Pacific water and marine biota, including fish that migrate to Indonesia such as yellowfin tuna," said Julius Ibrani, a member of the civil group, which calls itself the Anti-Toxic Waters Community Advocacy Team (Tampar).
The disposal of nuclear-contaminated water violates Indonesian and international laws as Japan didn't consult countries affected by the Pacific Ocean currents, including Indonesia, before the discharge, Ibrani noted, who is also chairperson of the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association.
Another Tampar member, Marthin Hadiwinata, who is the national coordinator of Indonesia's non-governmental organization Maritime Ecology, added that Indonesian civil groups urged the Japanese government to stop discharging the nuclear wastewater into the ocean and examine the environmental impacts thoroughly.
They also urged Japan to ban the export of its seafood to Indonesia, and to announce the names of restaurants, in both Japan and Indonesia, that provide seafood affected by the discharge. ■
